Volunteer Opportunities

Assigned Counsel Project Internship Program

In January 2014, the Access to Justice Program's Housing Court Initiatives, Help Centers, and Court-Based Interdisciplinary Programs collaborated to launch the Assigned Counsel Project ("ACP") Pilot Internship Program. The Internship Program was set up to recruit, train, and supervise law students and approved recent law graduates to conduct intake and assess the legal and social services needs of vulnerable seniors at risk of eviction. Once they successfully interview, the volunteers complete a comprehensive training, and then serve their 50-hour commitment alongside experienced court attorneys in the Help Centers located in the courts where they volunteer. In light of the success of the pilot inaugurated by three law students in Kings County Housing Court at the beginning of the year, two other classes of volunteers participated in this initiative during 2014, and transformed the project into an established program. The Program is now in operation in three counties: Queens, Kings, and New York, and gives volunteers an opportunity to give back to their community while meeting their pro bono requirement.